What's In A Name?
Quite a lot actually.
Out and about this morning I noticed that Hackney pub The Sussex Arms, on Culford Road, has now been renamed.... The Scolt Head.
I have no idea what a Scolt is, or what its head looks like. I do however know a stupid name when I see one.
A whole book could be written about the drive to replace traditional pub names with all sorts of nonsense. Given how often politicians claim to be motivated by a desire to protect British heritage, I am amazed the usually law happy House of Commons has never come up with a Bill to stop such name changes - you would be surprised how strongly many people feel about the issue.
It is in fact very simple. For a pub to change its name, it should need the signatures of at least 200 residents within the same postal area. Without it, the old names, which have usually served for generations, should stay.
The history of Britain can be told through its pub names - from Roman times, through the Crusades and the Dissolution of the Monasteries to the present day. I've just finished researching an e-book on the subject and found that the names were inspired by pride, ambition, lust, murder, royalty, religion,heroes and scandal. It's quite a story! The name above the door is often more ancient than the building itself and it would be great to see them "listed" as part of our heritage.
Elaine Saunders
Author: A Book About Pub Names
Posted by: Elaine Saunders | March 27, 2008 at 12:44 PM